Hi, all – Today we announced YBCA’s 09_10 season. Dance highlights include
the West Coast premiere of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company’s *Fondly
Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray*; an international collaboration between
Akram Khan and National Ballet of China; and world premieres by Bay Area
artists including Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Sara Shelton Mann and
David Szlasa.

Theater highlights include an appearance by London's DV8 Physical Theatre
and the world premieres of works by Bay Area artists Sara Kraft and Theatre
of Yugen.

* *

In addition, we are changing our hours to make it easier for people to
experience a variety of what YBCA has to offer. This means that the
galleries will be open before films and performances and buying a
performance ticket gives you entrance to the Galleries for free. Below is
information on the dance and theater portion of our season – the full press
release with all of YBCA’s programming can be found at:
http://www.ybca.org/about/press/

Performing Arts Highlights Include the West Coast Premiere of Bill T.
Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company’s *Fondly Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray*;
an International Collaboration Between Akram Khan and National Ballet of
China; London's DV8 Physical Theatre; and World Premieres by Bay Area
Artists Including Margaret Jenkins Dance Company, Sara Kraft, Theatre of
Yugen, Sara Shelton Mann and David Szlasa

SAN FRANCISCO—June 10, 2009—Executive Director Kenneth J. Foster today
announced Yerba Buena Center for the Arts’ (YBCA) schedule for the 09_10
season and plans to transform visitors’ experiences at the Center:

“YBCA is in a unique position to offer audiences a very dynamic arts
experience—we function as a presenter of films, exhibitions and
performances, but also as a gathering place for the community. We realized
there was a possibility to transform patrons’ visits to YBCA by programming
our arts events during a concentrated amount of time, which allows visitors
to easily engage in multiple arts experiences, and perhaps even be surprised
by coming across an artist or work they hadn’t anticipated. We shifted our
gallery hours to late afternoon and evening to provide increased access to
our exhibition programs since most of our patrons work during the day. And
by offering programming such as the *Wallworks *open studio or having
artists in residence as part of *PAUSE: Practice and Exchange*, the public
has greater opportunities to directly interact with the art and the artists.
Ultimately, we believe these changes help provide visitors with a more
meaningful arts experience and further identify YBCA as hub for amazing arts
experiences, social activity and community engagement.”

To encourage visitors to attend more than one event, YBCA plans to offer
more “free with gallery admission” programs and including same-day gallery
admission with all YBCA paid events. YBCA will also have new gallery hours.
Starting on July 6, 2009 the galleries will be open Thurs-Fri 2:00pm –
8:00pm; Sat 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm; Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm; and closed
Mon-Weds except the first Tuesday of the month when the hours are 12:00 pm –
8:00 pm.

YBCA’s 09_10 season features *Wallworks*, the highly anticipated YBCA
curatorial debut of Betti-Sue Hertz, YBCA’s new director of visual
arts. *Wallworks
*celebrates the unique qualities of YBCA’s 1993 building designed by
acclaimed architect Fumihiko Maki, by commissioning artists to create new
large-scale works directly on the walls of both its galleries and public
spaces. Participating artists are Makoto Aida, Edgar Arceneaux, Chris
Finley, Tillman Kaiser, Odili Donald Odita, Amanda Ross-Ho, Yehudit
Sasportas and Leslie Shows. The first two weeks of the project serve as an
open studio where audiences are invited to witness the creation of the works
as they evolve on-site.

*Wallworks* is part of YBCA’s new *PUSH PLAY>YBCA Summer Festival*, which
also features an adventurous underground music series featuring both
emerging and world class musicians, *Beyond ESPN: An Offbeat Look at the
Sports Film*, and performances by some of the queer community’s leading
musicians as part of a residency by Mama Calizo’s Voice Factory in YBCA’s
Room For Big Ideas. YBCA is offering a *PUSH PLAY> *All Access Pass for $35
which grants priority seating and free access to all *PUSH PLAY>* programs
during the summer.

In September, YBCA begins its regular season featuring artists and projects
connected to the Big Ideas—major themes that artists are exploring right
now—as a way to help audiences better understand the work, recognize some
connections and/or contradictions between artists and help understand how
art relates to the world around us. This season all of YBCA’s programming
revolves around the theme *Imaginative Investigations of Promise and
Possibility*. Under this theme YBCA art and events explore the three Big
Ideas *Heroes and Heroics, Bridging the Gap, *and* Under the Influence*. The
first one, *Heroes and Heroics*, is an issue that has been raised around the
meteoric rise and overwhelming support for Barack Obama. The second
idea, *Bridging
the Gap*, examines the ways that artists are working together to explore the
differences between cultures and ideologies that have separated us, to
create entirely new artistic conversations and art forms. And with *Under
the Influence*, artists illuminate how the creativity, ideas and influences
of others help individuals better understand themselves.

For the 09_10 performance season, YBCA has commissioned or co-commissioned
works by the following Bay Area performing artists: Margaret Jenkins Dance
Company; Theatre of Yugen; Sara Kraft; Sara Shelton Mann and David Szlasa.
In addition, as part of YBCA’s ongoing commitment to contemporary African
work, YBCA has co-commissioned *The Good Dance – dakar/brooklyn* which is
the result of a collaboration between Congolese contemporary choreographer
Andréya Ouamba’s Senegal-based company 1er Temps and Brooklyn-based
choreographer Reggie Wilson. These commissions are part of the “YBCA
Presents Performance” series and are funded in part by donors to YBCA's
Novellus Theater "Take a Seat Campaign."

*PERFORMING ARTS 09_10*

*Angela Mattox, Performing Arts Curator*

*Isabel Yrigoyen, Performing Arts Manager*

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts performing arts program features an
extraordinary lineup of artists you won’t see anywhere else—artists who are
unabashedly taking risks, experimenting with the boundaries of their form
and committed to collaboration. One of the highlights of the upcoming season
is a collaboration between the National Ballet of China and Akram Khan, one
of the most exciting choreographers on the international stage today. The
season includes YBCA commissioned new works by Theatre of Yugen and Margaret
Jenkins Dance Company with Guangdong Modern Dance Company of China, projects
that take these artists into new artistic territory through compelling
international collaborations. As part of the 09_10 season, YBCA also
presents two extraordinarily influential cultural provocateurs and artistic
trailblazers delving deeply into current topical issues and questions with
new work by Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company about the legacy of
Abraham Lincoln and, and the provocative DV8 Physical Theatre, investigating
tolerance, intolerance, and homosexuality in the theater piece “To Be
Straight With You”.

YBCA is thrilled to co-commission *Other Suns*, a world premiere trilogy of
dances created by Margaret Jenkins and her company in a cross-cultural
collaboration with the Guangdong Modern Dance Company of Guangzhou, China.
Jenkins, who has for 35 years been one of the Bay Area's most influential
and innovative choreographers, investigates symmetry and asymmetry in both
Chinese and American cultures. Through an intricate blend of contemporary
dance forms, *Other Suns* transcends national and cultural barriers,
offering a new perspective on balance and imbalance in our fast-changing,
global society. Live music composed by Paul Dresher and performed by the
Paul Dresher Ensemble, with additional music by Bun Ching-Lam.

In celebration of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company’s 25th
anniversary and the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, YBCA presents
the West Coast premiere of *Fondly Do We Hope… Fervently Do We Pray*.
Blending video, live music, movement and theater, *Fondly Do We
Hope*navigates the ambiguous space where art, biography and history
collide,
profoundly expanding the palette of modern dance. In this thought-provoking
new work, Jones – recipient of the 2007 Tony Award for *Spring
Awakening*and recognized worldwide as a cultural trailblazer –
considers Lincoln's
legacy and unrealized vision for the reconstruction of America, exposing
that great distance between what is and what could have been.

Known for their use of dense, poetic text set to contemporary music, San
Francisco’s venerable Theatre of Yugen creates a unique and imaginative
fusion of traditional Japanese theater with a western sensibility that is at
once ancient and avant-garde. YBCA is delighted to commission the world
premiere of *Dogsbody*, an adaptation of *The Iliad *by award-winning
playwright Erik Ehn and directed by Dijana Milosevic, founder of DAH Teatar
of Serbia. Neither docudrama nor overt political propaganda,
*Dogsbody*challenges the concept of child soldiers as a regrettable
phenomenon, by
evoking a frightening vision of America in the not-so-distant future.

As part of its ongoing commitment to the diverse artistic voices shaping the
performing arts in Africa, YBCA presents one of South Africa’s leading
choreographers, Gregory Maqoma in his acclaimed solo performance, *Beautiful
Me*. Paying tribute to three master choreographers who have inspired him –
Akram Khan’s Contemporary Kathak, Faustin Linyekula’s visual dance-theater
and Vincent Mantsoe’s Afro-Fusion – Maqoma builds a bridge to a living past
by layering these diverse idioms with his own, creating an entirely new and
unique dance experience. Performed with live music (violin, cello, sitar and
percussion), *Beautiful Me *speaks honestly about the profound task of
finding one’s authentic voice, redefining our notion of postmodern African
choreography.

A leader in Britain’s contemporary dance scene, London's DV8 Physical
Theatre presents *To Be Straight With You*, an explosive multimedia dance
theater piece that examines tolerance, intolerance, religion and
homosexuality in the UK. DV8’s multi-ethnic cast brings to life stories
gleaned from hundreds of hours of audio interviews. Every word spoken on
stage comes directly from the interviewees, many of whom requested anonymity
for fear of reprisal from their own communities. A poignant and visceral
theatrical experience that will* *resonate with San Francisco audiences as
gay marriage continues to be a hot-button issue in American politics.

Youth Speaks’ Living Word Project and YBCA present a revolutionary three-day
festival celebrating West Coast dance, theater and music. Curated by Marc
Bamuthi Joseph, *Left Coast Leaning* positions the west coast, long
celebrated as the progressive edge of the country, as the emerging center of
a changing world. Each evening features a different line-up of urban-based
movement, storytelling and music, showcasing performances and collaborations
by some of the west coast’s most influential artists, including Amara
Tabor-Smith of Urban Bush Women and inkBoat’s Sherwood Chen, Amy Seiwert of
Smuin Ballet, Seattle’s Zoe Scofield and Juniper Shuey, and musicians
ranging from Berkeley’s Ambrose Akinmusire to Portland’s Holcombe Waller.

EVIDENCE, A DANCE COMPANY, based in Brooklyn, NY fuses traditional African
dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word to provide a unique
view of the human experience. Founder and choreographer Ronald K. Brown’s
newest work, *Two-Year Old Gentleman, *is an homage to the traditions passed
down from one generation of men to another. Inspired by the relationship
between Brown’s young nephew and his grandfather (who passed away last year
at age 80),* Two Year Old Gentleman* poses questions about male
responsibility – to one’s community, to one’s family and to one’s self.

Cultures from around the world collide in* bahok*,* *the eagerly anticipated
collaboration by Akram Khan and the National Ballet of China. *bahok* (a
Bengali word meaning “carrier”) unites the rich talents of Khan’s
Kathak-contemporary company with the virtuoso skills of three classically
trained dancers from the National Ballet of China, exploring the ways in
which the body carries national identity and a sense of belonging. One of
the most acclaimed choreographers of his generation, Khan combines the
dynamics of modern China, Chinese folk dancing and *Kathak* (an ancient form
of Indian classical dance) with western/modern and classical dance, creating
a thrilling new performance genre. The piece features an original score by
Khan’s longtime collaborator, award-winning composer Nitin Sawhney.

Bay Area artist Sara Kraft returns to YBCA with the world premiere of
*HyperReal,
*blending text, song, sound, movement and live video to examine the complex
and conflicted ways we inhabit our minds, our bodies and our world in the
digital age. How do we determine what is “real” in a world where our
experiences and perceptions are mediated through technology – a world where
even our “actual” physical experience can be questioned? With a knack for
illuminating large themes through very personal and intimate lenses, Kraft
transports audiences with hilarious, heartbreaking, disturbing, provocative
and transcendent meditations on the human condition that linger long after
leaving the theater.

Brooklyn-based choreographer Reggie Wilson returns to YBCA with *The Good
Dance – dakar/brooklyn*, the culmination of a multi-year collaboration and
cultural exchange with Congolese contemporary choreographer Andréya Ouamba
and his Dakar, Senegal-based company 1er Temps. An evening-length program
featuring movement, text and live vocal work, *The Good *Dance melds the
rich art, culture and history of each man’s ancestral past, incorporating
the rhythms of African, Caribbean and African-American dance to create a
theatrical world that passionately reflects upon the connections, both
intimate and metaphoric, of the cultures of the Congo and Mississippi
rivers.

YBCA concludes its 09_10 performing arts season with the world premiere of *
Tribes*, an innovative new collaborative work by Bay Area choreographer Sara
Shelton Mann and media artist David Szlasa. A full-length multimedia
performance incorporating movement, video and sound, *Tribes* maps out the
kinesthetic and vibratory shift in our global culture, investigating the
ways in which people find, communicate and experience one another in an
increasingly interconnected world. Szlasa creates original film and media
design elements as the foundation for a live performance by Sara Shelton
Mann, founder and director of one of the Bay Area’s most exciting
performance ensembles, Contraband.

YBCA, located in San Francisco’s Yerba Buena cultural district, is one of
the nation’s leading multidisciplinary contemporary arts centers. With a
belief that contemporary art is at the heart of community life, YBCA brings
audiences and artists of all backgrounds together to express and experience
creativity. The organization is known for nurturing emerging artists at the
forefront of their fields and presenting works that blend art forms and
explore the events and ideas of our time. As part of its commitment to the
San Francisco Bay Area, YBCA supports the local arts community and reflects
the region’s diversity of people and thought through its arts and public
programming.

Performing arts, visual arts and film/video programs are curated
thematically around Big Ideas which illustrate the connections and
associations between the works. Public programs and *What’s the Big Idea?
Nights*, YBCA’s popular free open house series, are dedicated to
establishing a deeper understanding and appreciation of contemporary art.
YBCA presents programming year-round in the Forum, Screening Room, Galleries
and Novellus Theater. For tickets and information, call 415.978.ARTS (2787)
or visit www.ybca.org. Join us and experience life…amplified!

*FUNDING*

YBCA’s programs are made possible in part by:

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund,
LEF Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation and Novellus

YBCA Performance 09­_10 is made possible in part by:

The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and The William and Flora Hewlett
Foundation

Additional Funding for YBCA Performance 09_10:

The National Endowment for the Arts, New England Foundation for the Arts and
Members of Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

YBCA Exhibitions 09_10 is made possible in part by:

Mike Wilkins and Sheila Duignan, Meridee Moore and Kevin King and Members of
Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

Community Engagement and Youth Education Programs are made possible in part
by:

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